Epic Comparisons
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De’Quion Williams
Dr. Swedan
ENG-201
06DEC2023
Epic Comparisons
Epic poems have been around for centuries with many regarding “
The Epic of Gilgamesh
” as being one of the first. The poem is thought to have been written in approximately 2100 BC (Before Christ) and traces back to ancient Mesopotamia (Sova, Dawn). Epic poems are categorized by a few key components such as larger than life characters, grand settings, incredible feats, an omniscient style of writing, and certain conventions like starting “in the middle” of things and various amounts of ships and armies (Walswick, slides 1-6). All Epic poems consist of a combination of these five elements. Epic poems can be compared to the modern-day superhero comics and movies of DC and Marvel, and this is part of the reason people find them so intriguing. People love reading or watching movies about superheroes and heroic feats because the fantastic elements behind them are truly captivating to an audience. This
essay will show the cultural similarities and differences between two of the most popular epics, the Sumerian Epic “
The Epic of Gilgamesh
” and the Roman Epic “
The Aeneid
.” The Sumerian Epic, “
The Epic of Gilgamesh
” traces all the way back to ancient Mesopotamia and is regarded as the first epic. In this Epic poem the main protagonist is the tyrannical King Gilgamesh, possessed of great wealth, power, and physical attractiveness, he oppresses his people as he satisfies his own selfish needs (Cook, James). King Gilgamesh partakes in a journey to discover the secret of immortality upon his most trusted companion Enkidu’s death. Upon the completion of his quest, he does not find the key to immortality, but he
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becomes a better person as he learns that death is inevitable, and he needs to cherish those close to him while he still can. There are many grand feats that happen and many deities and spiritual aspects as well in this poem.
The Roman Epic, “
The Aeneid
” can be traced as far back as 30 BC during the reign of Emperor Augustus. In this Epic, the main protagonist is the trojan prince Aeneas. Aeneas escapes the siege of Troy with the destiny of founding Rome. Aeneas is the embodiment of Roman virtues: He is the dutiful servant of fate and of the gods, he is an exemplary leader of his people, and he is a devoted father and son (Snodgrass, Mary Ellen). He is so devoted to the destiny that the Gods gave him that he leaves his lover, Queen Dido, to fulfill said destiny.
Differences
Some of the main differences between these Epic poems can be seen right away in the characters. Aeneas is the epitome of a great leader. He is truly an authentic servant leader. He shows this by putting his people and mission above his own wants and desires. While on the other hand King Gilgamesh is considered a tyrant by his people. He rules over them with an iron fist, taking whatever and whomever he wants to fulfill his selfish desires. Even the journey that King Gilgamesh goes on is selfish. He is solely seeking to extend his own life span indefinitely. Another big difference between King Gilgamesh and Aeneas was their faith. In both the Sumerian culture as well as the Roman culture the will of the Gods were absolute. Aeneas held that truth very highly as he devoted his life to completing the task the Gods set out before him, but King Gilgamesh defied the Gods many times during his journey no matter the consequences. This blatant disrespect toward the Gods is what puts King Gilgamesh a notch below Aeneas in terms of piety. Another difference between the two protagonists is that King Gilgamesh is not as relatable as Aeneas. King Gilgamesh is a prominently mythical being standing at over 5 meters
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tall (16 feet) and being a giant among men, while Aeneas who is also regarded as a demigod possesses normal human features and stature. This makes Aeneas more relatable in a human sense. One could more closely compare their own feats to a normal size man than those of a giant. The main difference between these two characters is found in the journeys that they embark on. As stated earlier, Aeneas’ mission was not for himself but for his people to thrive and
live on, whilst King Gilgamesh’s journey was strictly for self. This shows a vast difference in the
character of these two protagonists.
Similarities
While sharing many differences, King Gilgamesh and Aeneas also share many similarities. One of the biggest similarities would have to be that both are demigods, and they possess supernatural capabilities, such as battle prowess, physical strength, and dexterity. Another similarity is found not within the characters themselves but in the structure of the Epics. “
The Epic of Gilgamesh
” is comprised of twelve tablets which is the same number of books in “
The Aeneid
”. This cannot just be a coincidence. Another similarity between these two Epics is that while King Gilgamesh’s journey was selfish, his people benefited from it much like Aeneas’
people benefited from his journey. King Gilgamesh people benefited because during his journey he changed and grew into a humbler and more authentic King who actually cared for his people.
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Works Cited
Cook, James Wyatt. “Aeneid.” Encyclopedia of Ancient Literature, Second Edition, Facts On File, 2014.
Bloom's Literature, online.infobase.com/Auth/Index?
aid=100535&itemid=WE54&articleId=30267. Accessed 6 Dec. 2023.
Cook, James Wyatt. “Sumerian Literature.” Encyclopedia of Ancient Literature, Second Edition, Facts On File, 2014. Bloom's Literature, online.infobase.com/Auth/Index?
aid=100535&itemid=WE54&articleId=30344. Accessed 23 Nov. 2023.
"Epic of Gilgamesh." Classical and Medieval Literature Criticism, edited by Jelena O. Krstovic, vol. 74, Gale, 2005. Gale Literature Resource Center, link.gale.com/apps/doc/H1410001398/LitRC?
u=mill30389&sid=bookmark-LitRC&xid=01b24a9f. Accessed 6 Dec. 2023.
“Roman Literature.” Facts On File, 1AD. Bloom's Literature, online.infobase.com/Auth/Index?
aid=100535&itemid=WE54&articleId=47856. Accessed 23 Nov. 2023.
Snodgrass, Mary Ellen. “Aeneid.” Encyclopedia of the Literature of Empire, Second Edition, Facts On File, 2014. Bloom's Literature, online.infobase.com/Auth/Index?
aid=100535&itemid=WE54&articleId=35877. Accessed 23 Nov. 2023.
Sova, Dawn B. “The Epic of Gilgamesh.” 120 Banned Books, Third Edition, Facts On File, 2022. Bloom's Literature, online.infobase.com/Auth/Index?
aid=100535&itemid=WE54&articleId=478009. Accessed 23 Nov. 2023
Walswick, Lacey. “The Primary Characteristics of Epics.” Moodle, 26 November 2023, https://gmc.mrooms3.net/mod/resource/view.php?id=6414838&redirect=1
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